RELG 330 - History of Christianity
Course Notes
Chapter 31
Page 451 - Prince Vladimir's conversion - see Pages 281-283 the Notes for Chapter 20, and the Notes on the Russian Primary Chronicle
Page 451 - Nil Sorsky (1433-1508) is regarded as a Saint by the Russian Orthodox Church. He was a member of a noble Russian family who became a monk of the monastery of Beloozero (BYEL-uh OH-zyer-ah) - "White Lake") in northern Russia. He visited the monastery of Mt. Athos in Greece, and became a Hersychast (contemplative, using the Jesus Prayer). When he returned to Russia he became a hermit in the forests near Beloozero. He introduced a new form of monasticism to Russia - that of a small group, known as a skit (pronounced SKEET), of ascetic contemplative monks, led by a spiritual father known as a staretz
Page 451 - Joseph of Volokolamsk (1439-1515) is regarded as a Saint by the Russian Orthodox Church. He founded the monastery of Volokolamsk near Moscow, and formed a large community of monks with a rigorous life of obedience, work, and long liturgical services. He aimed at educating learned monks for leadership in the Church, and accepted gifts on money and land to help expand the monastery. Further monasteries were built, usually near cities, rather than out in the forests.
Page 451 - Ivan the Terrible (1530-1584, ruled 1533-1584) was actually nick-named Ivan Grozny - Ivan the Awe-full, or Mighty. He inherited the throne when he was three years old, but was not crowned as Czar until he was 16, when he forcibly took control of Russia. He proposed marriage to Elizabeth I of England, but she had sense enough to say 'Thanks - but no thanks'
Page 452 - Czar Ivan IV's son was Feodor. Although Feodor was nominally Czar, real power was usurped by his wife's brother, Boris Godunov, who became regent. In 1591 Boris Godunov had Dimitri, son of Ivan IV, assassinated, In response, a pretender, known as the 'false-Dimitri', arose and claimed to be the rightful heir. in 1598 Boris Godunov seized the throne, and had himself elected as Czar by the national assembly. In 1601 the 'False Dimitri' appeared in Poland, and encouraged the Poles to invade Russia; he was defeated by Boris Godunov in 1604. Boris Godunov died and 1605 and was succeeded by his son Fyodor II, who was promptly assassinated by the 'False Dimitri'. The 'False Dimitri' entered Moscow and was crowned as Czar, but was assassinated the next year. A second 'False Dimitri' arose in 1608 but did not manage to gain control of Russia.
Page 452 - The Romanov dynasty ruled Russia from 1613 to 1914. It was founded by Michael Romanov (1596-1676), a grand-nephew of Ivan the Terrible, who became Czar in 1613. It ended with the murder of Czar Nicholas II, his young son, and all his family by the Communists in 1918
Page 453 - Archpriest Avvakum - an archpriest was the priest in charge of all the priests in a city. He could rpeside at services when the bishop was absent. In the Eastern Church it is the highest rank to which a married priest may attain.
Page 453 - The Old Believers or Raskolniki (RAZ-kohl-NEE-kee) refused to accept the rules of the Patriarch Nikon, and were excommunicated in 1667. Small groups of Old Believers still exist in Russia today.
Copyright © 2005 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved
